Journey Through Star Wars Timeline

December 11th, 2017

From the very beginning of Star Wars, George Lucas envisioned an epic tale which would span across multiple feature films. Shortly after the unexpected success of A New Hope in 1977, Lucas confirmed he had planned a 12-episode narrative, with a predicted completion date of 2001.

The franchise is a little behind that prediction. But it's set to be completed, with Star Wars: The Last Jedi releasing in 2017 and Episode IX in 2019.

Lucas originally started at Episode IV because he felt that movie technology was not sufficient to bring his idea to the big screen until The Phantom Menace, the first episode of the series, was released in 1999, and only specified events as occurring "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away." Queue some confusion as the Star Wars timeline was thrown off track.

With Rogue One thrusting itself into the midst of the story last year and a Han Solo prequel coming next year, what better time to revisit the Star Wars timeline (using The Phantom Menace as year zero). Below you can view Movie Pilot's very own comprehensive breakdown video, with a text layout further below:

Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace

[Credit: Lucasfilm]

Release date: May 19, 1999

Date in Star Wars timeline: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away

Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones

[Credit: Lucasfilm]

Release date: May 16, 2002

Date in Star Wars timeline: 10 years after The Phantom Menace

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Animated TV Series)

[Credit: Lucasfilm]

Release date: October 3, 2008 - March 7, 2014

Date in Star Wars timeline: 10-12 years after The Phantom Menace

Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith

[Credit: Lucasfilm]

Release date: May 19, 2005

Date in Star Wars timeline: 13 years after The Phantom Menace

Star Wars Rebels (Animated TV Series)

[Credit: Lucasfilm]

Release date: October 3, 2014 - Present

Date in Star Wars timeline: 27-30 years after The Phantom Menace

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

[Credit: Lucasfilm]

Release date: December 16, 2016

Date in Star Wars timeline: 32 years after The Phantom Menace

Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope

[Credit: Lucasfilm]

Release date: May 25, 1977

Date in Star Wars timeline: 32 years after The Phantom Menace

Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back

[Credit: Lucasfilm]

Release date: May 21, 1980

Date in Star Wars timeline: 35 years after The Phantom Menace

Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi

[Credit: Lucasfilm]

Release date: May 25, 1983

Date in Star Wars timeline: 36 years after The Phantom Menace

Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens

[Credit: Lucasfilm]

Release date: December 18, 2015

Date in Star Wars timeline: 66 years after The Phantom Menace

Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi

Release date: December 15, 2017

Date in Star Wars timeline: Probably 66-67 years after The Phantom Menace (leads on from The Force Awakens)

Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens in theaters everywhere on December 15, 2017.